Garcia makes history with win

American Mikey Garcia made boxing history on Saturday, beating Russian Sergey Lipinets via a unanimous points decision to become a four-weight world champion.

The win sees Garcia join an illustrious list of fighters to win world titles in four different weight categories, claiming belts at 126 pounds, 130, 135 and now 140 after beating a brave Lipinets to gain the IBF light-welterweight belt.

The Californian, Garcia, dominated much of the fight, winning 117-110 on two judges’ scorecards, and 116-111 on the other, as well as putting Lipinets on the canvas in the seventh round with a wonderful left-hand counter-punch.

The Russian was always competitive, and deserves credit for accepting such a difficult test after just 13 fights as a pro, but it wasn’t enough to beat an elite fighter in Garcia.

And after receiving criticism from some for choosing what was seen as an easy fight in Lipinets, there will now be great excitement over Garcia’s next opponent.

Many hoped that he would fight fellow pound-for-pound contender Vasyl Lomachenko, but this never materialised and it appears now Garcia will look to move up to the 147-pound welterweight division and attempt to become a five-weight world champion.

And who could blame him for forcing his way into such a talent-packed division? The likes of IBF champion Errol Spence Jr., WBC and WBA belt holder Keith Thurman and WBO champion Jeff Horn are all potential future opponents for Garcia. And Spence, who is increasingly being seen as the best welterweight in the world by fans, is yet to announce his next opponent. Perhaps a 2018 mega-fight is on the cards.

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